This won't be so much a transition year as it will be a rehabilitation year. Thanks to Derrick Rose's ACL recovery and a completely new bench minus Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler, this year's Bulls will will be different from the group we've been accustomed to for the past two seasons. They're not expected to contend for the championship. This summer, Miami got stronger with the addition of Ray Allen, the Lakers received the services of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash and Oklahoma City looks stacked from top to bottom. That makes the title a tall order until Rose is completely healthy, which isn't expected to be the case until next season. That's a tough pill to swallow, but if you're planning around a recent MVP who still has years left in the league, you have to make sacrifices. In the Bulls' case, it's the coming season.
The new bench will look to Taj Gibson for leadership. It's a given by now that were it not for Carlos Boozer, Gibson would be starting at the four. Add that to his familiarity with Tom Thibodeau's system and that makes him a natural. Even Kirk Hinrich, who provided decent numbers for the Bulls for seven years before being shipped to Washington, will have to learn under a coach unfamiliar to him. Don't be shocked to see him in a different role from what he was used to during his first stint here once Rose comes back. Keep in mind that there's a lot of talent surrounding him now, so he may not be relied on as heavily in clutch situations. Until then, he'll return to his former role as starting point guard. Anything he's able to provide for this club will be huge and he's a frontrunner for the second best player on the bench when that time comes sometime after the All-Star break.
All the talk about Luol Deng's wrist appears to have disappeared after he got through the Olympics unharmed and then continued to work out elsewhere. Reports indicate that it's no longer a major issue and in fact, he's ready to assume the leadership role in Rose's absence. If that wrist gets worked on, it won't be until next offseason at the earliest and even then, it might be just to rid himself of discomfort. Props to the Bulls' longest tenured player for recognizing the team needs him and willing to do whatever it takes to help them win. An All-Star nod this year would be the ultimate testament to what he truly means to this organization.
The Bulls are still the team to beat in the Central with the Pacers the only other potential threat in that division. However, we all know a divisional crown only assures home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Any after that depends on where you're seeded. What really matters is what you can do in the postseason. Unless a not entirely healthy Rose catches fire at the right time, we probably won't see this club make it out of the East. Then again, we've seen surprises in the NBA before. Can the Bulls be among the feel-good stories of the league over the past decade? We'll know soon enough, but for now, let's watch the preseason unfold.
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